§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the statement on page 13 of the document entitled "Our Changing Schools" that, by 1990, a system for giving all school leavers a record of achievement will have been set up, means that those leaving school from 1995 onwards will receive a record of achievement document;
(2) with reference to the Central Office of Information publication issued on behalf of his Department entitled "Our Changing Schools," whether the statement as given on page 15 that from September 1989, 11 to 16-year-olds 479W will have to learn all national curriculum subjects, including a modern foreign language, is literally accurate; and whether the statement on page 13 that, by 1990, a system for giving all school leavers a record of achievement will have been set up, is literally accurate.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend is currently considering the final report of the records of achievement national steering committee which offers advice on the scope and timing of national arrangements. The report will be published for consultation shortly. Decisions on national arrangements will be taken in the light of those consultations. Hon. Members will be kept informed of developments.
I regret that there is a misprint on page 15 of "Our Changing Schools". The passage should have stated that, from September 1989, 11 to 14-year-olds will have to learn all the national curriculum subjects, including a modern foreign language. The error has been put right in subsequent reprints.
As the booklet makes clear elsewhere, the national curriculum is being introduced in stages from September 1989. The requirement to study all the core and foundation subjects for a reasonable time up to the age of 16 will be phased in over subsequent years.